The Community Impact Arts Grant (CIAG) program, offered by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture, provides financial support for arts projects and programs by municipal departments and nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is outside of the arts. This grant recognizes the intrinsic value of arts and culture for community well-being and as a tool for civic problem-solving across various issue areas. The program aligns with the department's mission to support the complex arts ecology of Los Angeles County by enhancing access and quality of arts and culture programming in non-traditional arts venues, fostering cross-sector arts strategies and collaborations.
The primary beneficiaries of the CIAG program are diverse communities within Los Angeles County, particularly those served by organizations focused on health and wellness, human services, social and restorative justice, community and economic development, and environmental justice. The program aims to increase access to high-quality arts and culture experiences for these communities and strengthen the programming offered by non-arts organizations. The impact goals include leveraging arts as a vital tool for civic problem-solving and promoting collaboration between arts and other sectors to achieve broader community benefits.
The CIAG program prioritizes organizations that integrate arts and culture into their larger mission to provide services to individuals and the community, often operating outside traditional arts venues. It focuses on supporting diverse communities and addressing a range of issue areas through arts-based initiatives. The grant seeks to fund projects that demonstrate strong cross-sector arts strategies and collaborations. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with a primary non-arts mission, municipal departments, social and human services agencies, religious organizations with non-religious community services, fiscal sponsors in California, and tribal governments in LA County.
Expected outcomes of the CIAG program include a wider reach of arts and culture programming to underserved communities, enhanced quality of arts-based services provided by non-arts organizations, and increased collaboration between the arts and other sectors. Measurable results could include the number of arts-based workshops, classes, performances, or presentations hosted by grantees, the number of individuals served, and evidence of arts contributing to civic problem-solving in areas like health, social justice, and community development. The program's strategic priority is to strengthen the arts ecosystem by embedding arts and culture into various community services, demonstrating a theory of change where arts act as a catalyst for broader societal well-being and problem-solving.
